Introduction

This book is part of a broader attempt to decolonize colonial histories and understandings about Indigenous peoples and their relationships with their territories, and argues that the land ethos of "being part of the land," specifically among the Mayan community of Xuilub (Yucatan), Mexico, is guided by the cultural precept of responsibility-based thinking.

Unique Contributions

The work uniquely adds much needed insights into responsibility-based thinking for land-use practices, and develops a theoretical framework for assessing historical impacts on Indigenous cultures and livelihoods.

Content and Approach

In six chapters, the text bridges Western and Indigenous Knowledge (IK) approaches to achieve deeper understanding of IKs, focusing on more Indigenous-centered methods, with the goal of expanding the disciplinary perspectives of postcolonial scholarship and Indigenous geographies.

Intended Audience

The book contains useful information for environmental planning/management scholars and geographers who may not be familiar with Indigenous approaches to land-use, and to Indigenous geographers working to bridge Western and Indigenous methodologies.